The Houston Texans have had a less than ideal start to their season, amassing a 1-6 record thus far. Not only that, but they also fired their coach/GM, and now look very much like a team starting over. And for star Defensive End, J.J. Watt, rebuilding isn’t something he’s interested in.
In an interview with ESPN, Watt was asked directly if he believes he’ll finish his career in Houston.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that I don’t have 10 years left in this league,” Watt said. “I personally believe that I do have a few more great ones left in me. But you also can’t … I’m not looking to rebuild. I’m looking to go after a championship, and that’s what I want to do. So, whatever is in the best interest of the Houston Texans, that’s in the best interest of myself.”
If you’ve taken any time at all to watch Houston this season, then you could definitely understand where Watt is coming from. Watt only has has one season left on his contract extension, worth $17.5 million. And, since none of that money guaranteed, it could be agreeably from both Watt and the Texans organization to part ways in the event of a full-on rebuild.
But, if a rebuild is the way they’re planning to go, Houston has a long road ahead of them. With no first- or second-round pick next year, and the need to hire a new GM, a rebuild could take several years.
Now, by no means am I saying that Watt is in the wrong for wanting to leave. Watt is like the Mother Teresa of Football. And players like Watt, who have done so much in the Houston community, obviously prefer to win with the franchise they have committed their careers to. However, after six AFC South titles (with only four playoff wins), Watt isn’t blind to the fact that it could take more time than he has left for Houston to claw its way back to the top of the division.
“Early in your career, you think life goes on forever,” Watt said. “Obviously, we win our first-ever division, our first-ever playoff game in my first year. In the second year, we go 12-4, and you think that life’s going to be great and you’re just going to keep getting better and better. And then you go 2-14 and the reality of the business side of the NFL and the reality of all the things that come along with it hit you in the face. And you realize that, oh, this isn’t all roses all the time. And then you look at the last seven years or so. And yeah, we won some division championships and that’s great, but that’s not the goal. That’s not the goal.
“And your goal can’t be to make the playoffs. Your goal can’t be to win one or two playoff games. If your goal is not to win the Super Bowl, and your goal is not to do everything in your power to make that happen, and make your organization in the best possible situation for that, then that’s not going to happen. So that is my goal. That’s why the work goes in. That’s why I fought back from all these injuries. Because that’s the goal, and that’s what I’m still working towards.”
As a fan of the man, I wish J.J. the best! I know that no one in the NFL deserves a championship more than that man, and as a fan of the game, you’d love to see it happen! Hopefully, things will fall in his favor and he’ll get to ride off into the sunset as a Super Bowl Champion!
Feel free to share your thoughts and comments below! As always, thanks for reading! Peace!
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